David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move a motion relating to the deployment of the Australian Defence Force, as circulated.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice standing in the name of Senator Waters, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me from moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion relating to the deployment of the Australian Defence Force.

On 10 March 2026, the Albanese Labor government made a decision to deploy the Australian Defence Force into the United Arab Emirates in a military operation as part of an armed conflict. The Memorandum on Government Conventions Relating to Overseas Armed Conflict Decision Making was adopted by the Albanese government in November of 2024 in order to avoid supporting Greens legislation requiring parliamentary approval.

That memorandum adopted by the Albanese government requires a government to take a number of actions within 30 days when deploying the ADF overseas, including the Prime Minister and the leader of the government in the Senate delivering a ministerial statement; providing an unclassified written statement to both houses of parliament outlining the objectives of the deployment, the orders made and the legal basis; and requiring that the first appropriate day within those 30 days be set aside for the consideration of the ministerial statement and that that debate take precedence.

It requires the leader of the government in the Senate and the Prime Minister to keep the parliament regularly apprised of military deployments. And what has this government done? The first time they confront this very modest requirement for transparency, they trip over it and land flat on their face. Why hasn't the government complied with its own rules? Why is the government breaching it? No doubt, it's because, if the government had to table their legal advice on being part of Donald Trump and Netanyahu's illegal war, it would look bad for them. Or they would admit that they have no legal advice setting out any lawful basis for complying with this illegal war.

The government has been avoiding any kind of debate on the war in this place. What is the legal basis for the deployment? What are the goals for the 85 Australians, the Australian military aircraft or the air-to-air missiles that have been deployed into the war zone under the control of the US Central Command? Will that aircraft be withdrawn? Will those troops be withdrawn if Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu launch a land invasion of Iran? What are the plans to ensure that the Australian deployment isn't destroyed on the ground, like we've seen happening to US aircraft in the region? While, on this long weekend, Australians across the country are worried about whether or not they'll be able to afford or find fuel to go and visit family and friends, to go on the Easter break, we have this government not even having the courage to explain why they supported and why they continue to support Donald Trump's illegal war.

It is amazing, isn't it, that the Labor government was the first government on the planet to come out of the blocks four weeks ago and support this illegal war? They were cheered on by the coalition, who continue to want to congratulate Donald Trump on his reckless war and Benjamin Netanyahu. The now silent One Nation cheered on the war in the first 24 hours, saying how much they love Donald Trump, with the leader of One Nation wanting to go and visit Trump again, to be flown over in a corporate jet from Gina Rinehart. Where is One Nation now? Where is One Nation? They are in hiding, trying to pretend to the Australian people that they care about the impacts of this conflict while they've cheered it on the whole way through. Those are the three war parties in here. There is Labor, hiding from accountability, not even meeting their own requirements for accountability, too frightened to even have a debate on why they're contributing to Donald Trump's illegal war and why they cheered it on in the first place. Now, no doubt, they are embarrassed. They have probably got a focus group going around where they've asked the Australian people, 'What you think of Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister, being the first leader on the planet to support Donald Trump's war?' I can imagine what the focus group says to that: 'You have got to be effing kidding. How could this possibly be what our prime minister did? Does he not care about Australians?' Why is this government putting Donald Trump first every single time? Come and explain yourself. Meet even your low bar. Don't hide. Come and table the documents. That's what this motion calls for. (Time expired)

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the question be put.

Slade Brockman (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the question be now put.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I ask it be recorded that Senator Payman supported that question.

Slade Brockman (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the suspension motion be agreed to.

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I seek to record Senator Payman's position. Firstly, to clarify, her position on the previous question was to oppose. Her position on the question that has just been resolved is to support.

Slade Brockman (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Happy to record that. I would note that generally speaking we record votes on substantive issues rather than on procedural motions, so I think in future it would probably be better if we just recorded substantive positions as opposed to procedural votes. It would help the clerks.